Specifically, those who don't speak English may be less likely to complete the kidney transplant evaluation necessary for them to be placed on a waiting list for a kidney from a deceased donor.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from kidney failure patients across the United States. The investigators found that patients who lived in neighborhoods where more than 20 percent of households didn't speak English were 29 percent less likely to be on a kidney transplant waiting list than those in neighborhoods where less than 1 percent of households didn't speak English.

Although the study can't prove a cause-and-effect relationship, the researchers found the link between not speaking English and not being on a kidney transplant waiting list was strongest among Hispanic patients.

The research was published online Feb. 9 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Huang said the researchers recommend that patients who have limited English proficiency and need a kidney transplant use English-speaking patient advocates and interpreters during transplant clinic visits.